The First Bride Read online

  Mary had barely thought about him since they left. Obviously, he would have noticed she was gone and he would have gone to the sheriff to declare Mary had been kidnapped or run away and demand he retrieved his daughter. But Mary knew nobody would go looking for her. It was sad but the truth. The sheriff would consider Mary not worthy enough to go searching for. And if it meant going back to Andrew Burton, he might think it was a miracle Mary hadn’t run away before.

  She had a new family now and Mary didn’t regret that. She had never had any siblings and now she had Ben and Carolyn. She was an aunt and Lucy and Paul Stanier were really nice people. A little preachy at times but Mary could handle that. They were a breath of fresh air compared to her father and his demands.

  They were a few weeks into their journey when they entered Nevada. Paul had everyone stop near a river and everyone got on with their tasks. Lucy was going to do the washing in the river and Mary offered to join her. She could splash herself with cold water once she was done with her chores. The weather had been getting even hotter the more they traveled and Mary was struggling at times. To be able to cool down was a luxury she wouldn’t miss.

  “Watch out!” Lucy shouted, her arms full of wet washing. “Something’s escaping!”

  Mary saw it. One of Gareth’s shirts was drifting along with the current. Lying flat on the bank, she managed to pluck it out of the water, bringing the dripping wet shirt onto the grassy bank. She groaned.

  “Oh, great. This was almost dry, now it’s just as wet as when I washed it.”

  “Well, the men don’t seem to care as long as it doesn’t smell of dirt.” Lucy smiled as she hung up more of the washing on the low-hanging boughs of a handy tree. “Gareth might appreciate the cold as well.”

  Mary couldn’t argue with that. She brought the shirt back, wrung it out as best she could and then gave it a good shake. That got rid of a lot of the creases so she hung it over a branch. It was dripping slightly onto the ground. Mary glared at it.

  “Stay.”

  Lucy burst out laughing.

  “Are you expecting it to sit up and beg?”

  “In this heat, I’m expecting anything.”

  Lucy grinned as she took a swig from her water canteen. She held it out to Mary.

  “Here, drink this.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You need to drink in this heat. I don’t want you collapsing on me now.”

  Mary hesitated. She was thirsty but she had forgotten her canteen. And she didn’t want to take Lucy’s water. They had been told not to get water from this part of the river. Something about a herd that had just passed upstream. Still, the water was clean enough to refresh their clothes. So she felt selfish... but Lucy was practically shoving the canteen at her so she took it with a slight smile.

  “Thank you.”

  The water felt incredibly refreshing as it slid down her throat. Mary sighed and sat against the trunk of the tree, a slight breeze brushing across her face. This felt really good with the wind going through her curls. She had left her hair loose since arriving at the mission station and now she had forgotten what a hair grip looked like.

  “You work yourself too hard,” Lucy said as she sat on a flat rock opposite, crossing her legs. “You need to slow down.”

  “This is how I’ve been all my life.” Mary almost choked on the water as it threatened to go down the wrong way. “I don’t know anything else.”

  Lucy frowned.

  “There is a fine line between working hard and overdoing it. It’s not an easy line to keep behind.”

  Mary could very well believe that. Lucy always seemed to be moving. She was in her fifties with iron-gray hair, she was stocky in build but as strong as an ox. While handsome, she wasn’t an eye-catcher, but the soft-spoken voice that came with her was surprising and belied her coarse appearance. Mary had liked her on sight; Lucy was pushy but she was warm and friendly. Once she had got over her shock that her eldest son had suddenly come back married, Lucy took Mary under her wing. It was wonderful, like having a mother again.

  That did give Mary pangs of sadness. She missed her mother and she didn’t want to replace her. But Lucy Stanier was a good substitute.

  “An easy line?” Mary snorted. “I’ve gone through the line and come out the other side many times. Father always made sure Mother and I worked hard while he sat and watched us, drinking whatever he could get his hands on.”

  “Didn’t he work?”

  “No, he stopped working after Mother died two years ago. He claimed he was suffering from grief but he couldn’t be bothered to get up and go.” Mary took another hefty swig. “I ended up with double the workload and he got more and more drunk because he couldn’t be bothered. I was struggling at times just to put food on the table, never mind pay the rent, he just didn’t care.”

  She had told her new family about her father before but not like this.

  Lucy’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open.

  “He didn’t help out at all?”

  “Nope.”

  Lucy grunted.

  “Sounds like you did well to get away from him, then. I can’t stand people like that. My parents brought me up to make sure I didn’t take things for granted. I’d kill Paul if he didn’t work hard.” A grin came over her wrinkled face.

  That had Mary smiling. Paul Stanier was a big, gruff man but he was a mouse when it came to his wife. He was clearly devoted to her, no doubt about it. Mary had seen her mother’s devotion to her father but that didn’t seem to go the other way.

  “Your whole family seems to have a hard-working ethic, even your granddaughter.”

  “We instill it into them at a young age. Once you can walk, you can help out with little things.” Lucy spread her hands. “If you do that, you start on good habits and it carries on until you’re an adult. Besides, we make it fun too.”

  Mary nodded. She had noticed that. The chores in the group had to be done but they were done with smiles and the family all accepted them as part of God’s way. “Mother was the same.” Mary stared down at the canteen in her lap. Talking about parents was making her despondent again. “I miss her.”

  “How did she die, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “The doctor said her heart just stopped. It gave out because she had been working too hard.” Mary gulped. “I was warned to slow down or I would go the same way. But Father ignored them and got me back to work the second Mother was put in the grave.”

  And she had received a black eye for asking for time. Mary had wanted to simply grieve for her mother but Burton wanted her back taking in washing to make sure there was always money for his drink. She was glad she didn’t have to deal with him anymore. With any luck, she wouldn’t have to see him again.

  Lucy gave her a gentle smile.

  “If you feel like you’re doing too much, just let us know. You don’t have anything to prove now. If you need a break, take it.”

  “I don’t think I know how anymore.”

  “Neither did I until I married and started having children. You realize then that you need time for yourself or you’ll go mad.” Lucy winked. “You’ll know what I mean when that happens.”

  When that happened. When she had children. That made Mary freeze. She had never thought of children before, mainly because she was so busy to even think of a family of her own. She may have married Gareth now but that wasn’t one of the things they had discussed. They still had not shared the marriage bed. Though they slept next to each other they were not yet a couple. Gareth was gentle and kind and gave her the space she needed. The thought of children left her feeling both cold and excited. Would they ever become a real couple?

  Mary had no idea how Gareth would react if he knew his mother had been talking to his wife about children.

  A sudden scream came out of nowhere, causing Mary to drop the canteen and water sloshed across the dry grass. She clutched her hand to her chest as her heartbeat tried to slow down.

  “What o
n earth was that?”

  But Lucy’s reaction was different. She was tense. Her face was white. She looked horrified.

  “That’s Carly.”

  Then she was up and running through the trees before Mary realized she had moved. Scrambling up, she ran after her mother-in-law, following the screams. They were closer than she thought, making Mary’s ears ring. Then she burst into a clearing and saw Carly backed up against a tree, screaming, with tears streaking down her cheeks.

  Lucy stood at the edge of the clearing, looking desperate.

  Mary started forward but Lucy grabbed her arm and hauled her back.

  “Get back! You’ll be bitten!”

  That was when Mary saw the snake.

  5

  Gareth heard the screams from the camp, as did everyone. It was a child’s scream of terror. Carly was the only child among the seven of them. And then Gareth heard shouting. One was his mother, sounding hysterical. The other was Mary.

  Gareth’s heart almost stopped. Mary was in danger. Suddenly, he froze. He didn’t know what to do. But then Ben and Paul were shouting and charging off out of the camp. That shook Gareth out of his shock and he took off after them.

  Carly didn’t sound very far away. But she sounded absolutely terrified. Had she fallen down a hole in the ground? Had she got cornered by an animal? Gareth hoped not; they had left their guns at the camp.

  They broke into the clearing and Gareth saw the snake before his father and brother. The long black coil was in front of Carly, just out of reach, hissing loudly. Its tail was twitching and Gareth could see its huge fangs. He grabbed Ben and yanked him back.

  “Whoa, stay back! Pa!”

  Paul also saw the snake and managed to dodge sideways, the snake hissing and lunging at him, barely missing his legs. Paul hit the ground and Mary ran forward. Between her and Lucy, they dragged Paul away. The snake drew back when it realized food was disappearing and turned back to Carly, who was clutching onto the tree sobbing.

  “Carly!” Ben shouted.

  He tried to pull out of Gareth’s grip but Gareth pulled him back.

  “Don’t,” he warned. “That snake is poisonous.”

  “I’m not going to let my daughter get bitten by that thing,” Ben snapped. “Carly!”

  “No!” Gareth yanked on his brother’s arm, causing both of them to sprawl on the ground. Gareth shook Ben hard. “This is not the time to kill yourself. Focus on Carolyn. I’ll get Carly.”

  Ben snorted.

  “What can you do that I can’t?”

  “I can’t get her killed because I’m more focused on her than the snake.” Gareth pointed behind them. “Look after your wife.”

  Carolyn had been in one of the wagons. Now she was in the clearing, her face white as she stared at Carly pressed back against the tree and shaking in fear. She looked like she was going to faint. Ben clambered over to her and Carolyn flung herself into his arms, whimpering as she couldn’t take her eyes off her daughter.

  Gareth caught Mary’s eye. She had ushered Paul and Lucy back into the trees and was picking up a stout branch. Keeping her eyes on the snake, she moved carefully around the clearing toward Gareth, picking up another on the way. She held this out to Gareth.

  “Take this. I’ll go from this side. We need to distract the snake.” Then Mary raised her voice. “Carly, when I say so, run to your father. Do not move before then, all right?”

  Carly sobbed louder. Gareth couldn’t believe how calm Mary was. Everyone else was scared but she was taking charge. There was a fire inside her he hadn’t realized was there.

  And he was very impressed with her plan, it had a chance to work without anyone getting bitten. He grabbed the branch and nodded his encouragement. Taking his cue from Mary, they circled the snake. It kept swaying back and forth, not sure about which way to go. Food was coming toward it but the snake didn’t know which one of them was a tastier meal.

  Mary moved first, banging the branch against a nearby tree. The snake struck out at her with a loud hiss.

  Before it could reach her Gareth tapped the ground near the snake’s side. It lurched toward him, moving faster than he anticipated. But it wasn’t focused on Carly anymore.

  “Go, Carly, run!”

  Gareth was vaguely aware of Carly running before he tripped. The snake lunged and he felt something sharp stab him in the leg. There was a scream but he wasn’t sure who it was. Then Mary had looped her branch around the snake and flung it away. Gareth didn’t see where it landed; he was too absorbed with the pain that was coursing up his leg. His calf felt numb.

  “Gareth!”

  Then Lucy was at his side. Gareth’s vision was starting to blur. He could barely sit up, never mind comprehend what was going on around him. All he could tell was his mother was beside him, tugging off his boot and rolling up his trouser leg.

  Another shadow moved on his other side. A slim hand stroked his head and Gareth knew it was Mary.

  “The snake’s dead. Your father’s taking care of it.”

  Her voice sounded very far away.

  “Gareth, talk to me. Gareth!”

  But Gareth couldn’t answer. He was burning up. His clothes felt too tight and his head was spinning. The last thing he saw before he slipped into the black fog that was dragging him under was Mary’s face. Her sweet, brave, beautiful face.

  6

  Mary was terrified when she saw Gareth lying there with an evident bite mark in his leg. It was bleeding heavily and clearly it was already taking effect. She could feel the panic rising as she watched Gareth writhing on the ground, his mother kneeling beside him helplessly.

  She couldn’t lose Gareth like this. No way.

  What happened next had Mary wondering if it actually did happen. She had grabbed Gareth’s leg and bitten into the wound. Carefully, she managed to draw the poison out. Mary barely comprehended what she was doing; it was out of pure instinct.

  Gareth was already unconscious and barely reacted as she sunk her teeth into his leg. As she sucked she tasted blood and then something bitter. That had to be the poison. She sucked as hard as she could for as long as she could. Gasping, she pulled away, spitting out the venomous liquid before she swallowed it.

  Then Lucy was there, barely saying anything as she wrapped a cloth around her son’s leg, knotting it tightly. Paul and Ben lifted Gareth up between them and carried him out of the clearing. Carolyn followed close behind with her daughter clinging to her and Lucy stayed with Mary, who could feel herself going into a state of shock.

  A few weeks out in the wilderness and she had managed to save her husband from a snake bite. Mary had seen snakes on the farm but they were mostly harmless. She wondered if she had heard of this as a remedy but couldn’t remember. A shiver traced down her spine and she rubbed her arms to remove the goosebumps. Knowing Gareth had been so close to being poisoned was enough to make her go cold.

  Lucy sat and held her hand. That gentle squeeze and the tears in her eyes were all the thanks Mary needed.

  When they got back to the camp Gareth was on a pallet in the wagon he and Mary shared. Ben was ushering Carolyn into the other wagon, his wife clutching her swollen belly with a grimace, and clutching Carly to him. Paul was sitting beside Gareth, his face pale.

  Mary’s legs almost buckled when she saw how all the color had drained out of him. Sweat streaked his face despite the fact that he was shivering.

  Mary was scared. Gareth was normally so strong. This was a side of him she had never seen before. She slumped beside Paul and clutched Gareth’s hand.

  “Stay with us, honey,” she whispered. “Stay with me. Please.”

  She stayed at his side the rest of the day, the rest of the family would come and go in turns, bring her food and liquid. Mary barely ate and couldn’t take her eyes off her husband. He just wouldn’t wake up and he was burning up. Had she managed to get all the poison out? Mary knew she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself if something happened to Gareth.

 
She had lost one person she loved already. She didn’t want to lose another. Not Gareth. It made her think about this sweet family and their beliefs. They would be praying for Gareth, would it hurt her so much to do the same? Though she had been angry at God for some time, right now she knew she needed His help. Gareth needed His help. So she closed her eyes and saw Gareth’s handsome face and sweet smile and she prayed. At first she was angry but she just kept asking that Gareth be kept safe and after a while it calmed her and she felt a burden ease off her shoulders.

  Gareth was breathing a little easier, still burning hot and covered in sweat but she believed he would make it through this.

  Night had fallen before the curtains twitched aside and Lucy poked her head in.

  “Mary?”

  Mary looked up. Her mother-in-law was holding onto a mug that had a steaming liquid inside. She shifted over and took the cup before helping the older woman in.

  “I brought you something to drink.” Lucy clambered into the wagon and settled beside her daughter-in-law. “You haven’t eaten anything since before we went to sort the washing out and you need to keep up your strength.”

  Mary didn’t have the strength to argue. She was too exhausted. She took a sip. The aroma went up her nose and the liquid slightly burned her mouth but it was meaty, a broth, and most welcoming. Mary sighed and settled back. That was the best thing she had tasted all day.

  “Thank you. How’s Carolyn? Is the baby all right?”

  “The baby wasn’t happy for a while but Ben’s confined her to the wagon so they should be rested for now.” Lucy tugged her hands through her hair. “I checked on her just now and she’s sleeping. Ben’s refusing to leave her side.”

  Mary understood that sentiment very well.

  Gareth gave off a slight sigh and shifted, his head lolling to the side. But he didn’t wake up.

  “How’s he doing?” Lucy asked.

  “He still has a fever and he hasn’t woken up.” Mary had to stop herself from clutching the cup too tight as it burned her fingers. “I’m beginning to worry that I didn’t get the poison out completely.”